Man who beat to death toddler in Lomita apartment gets 56 years

A 26-year-old man who fatally beat his girlfriend's toddler in a Lomita apartment was sentenced to 56 years to life in prison Wednesday by a judge who labeled his crimes "vicious" and "sadistic."

Daniel Vega stared down at the table while being admonished by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Steven Van Sicklen in a Torrance courtroom.

"Your conduct was as vicious, sadistic, as depraved, as cruel and as inhuman as anything I have ever seen in my life, which includes 14 years on the bench, hearing the most serious cases to come in this county," Van Sicklen said.

On March 3, 2011, Vega's girlfriend, Marisa Mendoza, left her apartment to run errands, leaving Vega with her 2-year-old son, Gabriel Dominguez. Her two daughters, then ages 5 and 6, were at school.

When Mendoza returned to the apartment at the Harbor Hills housing project in the 26600 block of South Western Avenue, Vega was gone and Gabriel was tucked into bed, as if sleeping, said Deputy District Attorney Lowrie Mendoza. (No relation to the mother.)

The boy's mother pulled back the covers to discover that the boy was dead. He had suffered more than 100 kicking and beating bruises to the mid-section.

Speaking through tears, Mendoza, 26, read a lengthy statement in the courtroom Wednesday.

"I had so many plans for him, so many dreams," said Mendoza, who, like other family members, wore a T-shirt emblazoned with a large photo of a smiling Gabriel in a booth at a McDonald's restaurant. "I can still hear his little voice in my head asking questions."

She went on to describe how Gabriel enjoyed playing with his boxing gloves - just like his father - and riding his scooter, "even though he was a little bit too short for it.

"He was the answer to my prayers - I always wanted a boy," she said, struggling to get the words out.

As he listened, the slight defendant kept his gaze downcast, revealing a few small tattoos on the back of his neck, one of them in the motif of a pink lipstick kiss.

"(Gabriel) was taken from us by the hand of a 26-year-old man who we opened our home to, helped, and treated like he was a part of our family when he had no place to go," she said. "And, in return, he ruined our lives forever."

Mendoza, who has moved back to Covina and is currently attending school to become a surgical technician, said the event has cost her the custody of her two daughters.

"I'm only allowed one hour a week with my little girls," she said. "This past year has been a nightmare for myself and my daughters."

She added that the tragedy has sabotaged her relationship with the family of the boy's father.

"Our relationship had never been perfect prior, but it's now nonexistent," she said.

A member of that family also spoke Wednesday, and her words for Vega were particularly venomous.

Jessica Dominguez, Gabriel's paternal aunt, began her statement by repeatedly demanding that Vega look at her. He did not.

"I will never forgive you - forgiveness does not exist in my heart," she said. "Enjoy your bus ride to hell, because prison is hell. ...Enjoy your new view of your vacation home in prison, because you will rot in there."

Both natives of Covina, Mendoza and Vega had dated in high school. They split up but reunited later in life.

The day of the crime, Mendoza - while out running errands with her friends - had called and texted him several times to check in. Vega didn't answer or respond, though she testified in court that that wasn't out of the ordinary.

Mendoza and a neighbor both testified that Vega mistreated Gabriel, often referring to him as a "mama's boy" and a "crybaby."

The trial began in late January and ended six days later. The jury reached a verdict on Jan. 30 after deliberating for just 30 minutes.

Vega has a criminal history. His rap sheet includes prior arrests and convictions for domestic violence, stalking, making terrorist threats and violating restraining orders. He had also been accused of abusing the boy.

Before coming to live with Mendoza in Lomita, Vega had served about two years in prison, said prosecutor Lowrie Mendoza. (All told, he had been sentenced to four years, but was released early.)

Records show other arrests or convictions for driving under the influence, marijuana possession and driving with a suspended or revoked license.

Despite his extensive criminal history, Vega had just one prior strike on his record - for making criminal threats - before the latest conviction, Lowrie Mendoza said. She said none of his other offenses was considered a strike.